Canadian regulators have approved a C$4 billion expansion project for Enbridge's Westcoast natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia, the company announced on Friday. Branded the Sunrise Expansion Program, the project is designed to increase the system's throughput by about 300 million cubic feet per day.
The approved plan calls for the installation of new pipeline segments integrated with the existing network, the addition of natural gas compression capacity, and assorted upgrades and modifications to current facilities. Enbridge said the work is expected to generate more than C$3 billion in economic activity within Canada during construction.
Enbridge also indicated the project will create employment opportunities in local communities and among indigenous groups, with approximately 2,500 workers projected to be hired for construction roles tied to the expansion.
Shares of Enbridge ticked up marginally on the announcement on Friday.
Enbridge's Westcoast pipeline stretches roughly 2,900 kilometers from northeast British Columbia to the Canada-United States border. The system currently has a capacity of 3.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day; the Sunrise Expansion will add about 300 million cubic feet per day to that total.
According to the company's schedule, ground-breaking for construction is expected to start in July 2026, with the project targeted to be placed into service in late 2028.
Project components and timeline
- New pipeline segments to be constructed alongside the existing system.
- Additional compression infrastructure to increase throughput.
- Upgrades and modifications to existing facilities to support the expanded capacity.
- Construction start targeted for July 2026; in-service date targeted for late 2028.
This article reports the details provided by the company and reflects the timeline, capacity increases, economic estimates, and employment projections as stated by Enbridge. Information beyond those statements is not introduced here.